Colorado CUs Beat the Banks in Katrina Softball Game

PUEBLO, Colo. – The credit unions did it. They beat a group of Colorado banks in a charity baseball game, 19-13. Not unexpected, the bankers immediately complained about “foul play” – specifically the use of a handful of CU employee spouses who performed some batting heroics. “The credit unions won by bringing in their own brand of ringers” charged Susan Fuller, marketing officer at Pueblo Bank & Trust Co. Fuller and her boss, Susan Baughman, marketing director, helped coordinate the bank/CU teams after a local radio personality suggested the idea of a first-of-its-kind CU vs. Banks ball game to raise funds for Katrina evacuees. “We were pretty darn good,” boasted Jennifer Olmstead, marketing director at Minnequa Works CU, one of four CUs which fielded players for the Oct. 13 evening game which raised $3,000 to aid 100 displaced Katrina families. Decrying with a laugh the whining from bankers, Olmstead said the pre-game rules were clear that employees or spouses could play. And besides, the banking contingent representing seven area banks had recruited one semi-pro player plus a college kid on a baseball scholarship who were employees. “I must say it was all lots of fun and we agreed to do it again next year but with a different charity,” said Olmstead. A pre-game morning radio show on the day of the game broadcast interviews with both bank and CU reps. who bantered about who would win. Ryan Ito, marketing representative at Decibel CU, had bragged to Pueblo listeners the CUs intended to “wipe the floor” with bankers. Olmstead said the only disappointment was the low 250 turnout at Runyon Field Sports Complex. Apparently, there was a conflict with a Colorado League Chapter meeting plus one CU had held a board meeting that day. Coach of the CU team was Carl Lytle, a CU collections manager. Most of the players were from the marketing and loan departments with a handful of bank and CU CEOs in the stands. -